How does dressing up help children develop

Whether pretending to be a policeman, or a firefighter putting out fires, or a prince helping a damsel in distress, dramatic play helps them to understand others and learn what it means to be a helper. Children learn to express themselves with freedom while playing dress up games, they show us their way of perceiving the world and how they develop ideas of the reality around them.

Dressing up with costumes allow our toddlers to explore, to experiment and to create different scenarios for their characters helping them strengthen their imagination and creativity. This is something I see on a daily basis with my child. Some days we are fighting dragons and the next one I might be discovering a new species of fish in the middle of the ocean. Check out our post on the benefits of painting for more activities to enhance creativity and imagination.

Creating stories and new adventures not only help our children with the development of the creative side of their brain, but it also encourages them to cooperate with others. He learns to share and to communicate, he develops interest in what others have to say and he learns how to respect. Role playing will help our children develop better gross motor skills, by making them go into character they will be running like a superhero, jumping like kangaroos or leaping like dancers. All these activities combined with having to put on their costumes before their big adventure, will also allow them to practice coordination when buttoning a jacket or shirt, tying the laces on their shoes or the apron of the chef, bedazzling that cape will also require them to use this type of skills, helping them to improve each day a little more in the way they move and coordinate.

If my kid saw me cooking dinner and then he reenacts the actions and what I was wearing during his playing time it means he is putting his memory to work. Check out our post on the benefits of puzzles for more activities to enhance their memory. Once this is settled we begin by talking to them, asking them what is their favorite cartoon, or what they want to be when they grow up, encouraging them to act them out, to show us what they are thinking on and help them if necessary.

When children role-play their characters and act out scenarios, they have to imagine what their characters would say. This helps expand their vocabularies as they will try to recollect words or phrases they have heard their character use, whether it be from reality, or books, televisions shows and movies. When children are imagining and acting out scenarios that their characters are a part of, they are able to imagine how they would behave in that situation and how they would process it.

While acting out an operation as a doctor or a rescue as a firefighter, they are able to overcome fears and feelings of helplessness and become emotionally mature. Children are not limited by gender roles while playing dress-up. Girls can dress up as warriors or princesses and boys can dress up as fairies or superheroes. When children explore other gender roles, they obtain a better understanding of gender identities and behaviour.

There are always problems before and while playing dress up, like deciding which story to enact, who plays which character, and the various problems that the characters encounter in the story.

Here are some ways in which you can promote fun role plays and dress up games at home:. This makes their dress up items easily accessible. If you want to encourage your little ones to make their own pretend-play dress up clothes, you can get some items from thrift shops or stores that are not too expensive, and give your little ones the opportunity to use their creativity and make their costumes by cutting or painting.

They can have ample space to play and people that they can role play with. To encourage dress-up play, there are some items like scarves, spectacles, props and spare clothes that you should keep at home. Here is a list of items you could get:. You can always keep more items at home for your kids to play dress up. You can even have doll-houses like barbies or castles, depending on the character your child likes.

Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Even if your child is quiet while engaged in dress-up play, you can bet that their imagination is going at full tilt. Role-playing, especially when it happens with other children, encourages taking turns, cooperation, and socialization. Children that allow their imaginations to run wild become great problem solvers as adults. Because creative thinking grows with use and practice and while trying to figure out how to rescue dolls from the bad guys doesn't seem like a pressing issue to you, to the superhero child, it's a quandary that has to be figured out immediately.

First, make sure you have plenty of supplies see list below. Keep everything handy and in a central location. And then get talking. Ask your child what he wants to be when he grows up or what would she do if she were Dora the Explorer.

Encourage her to act it out , drawing out details. Don some of the clothing yourself. Most preschoolers won't need too much encouragement, their natural creative streaks will kick in. Store-bought costumes are great for dress-up play. They can act out scenarios using familiar settings and even sing songs they see on television or read in books.

But don't discount the appeal of using items from your own home as dress-up play materials. Mom's old dresses, dad's shoes, and ties are all great fodder for the imagination. But just about anything works. Check your closet or local thrift shop for:. The list is never-ending and ever-changing, so update and add as you like. Gather everything together, wash it if you need to and keep it in a central location, maybe in an old trunk or suitcase. Keep it in the playroom or your child's room for easy access.

The best part about an open-ended play is that there is no right or wrong, just fun.